One piece of advice which stuck with me was given by Andras Schiff whilst giving a masterclass. He used words to the effect: "Practice slowly if you want, but *always* practice musically". Every note can be a gem.
One thing I love to do is play the piece in a swing rhythm. This makes it a little harder, but when it’s a technical piece like a Chopin etude, it actually helps you clean up the passages.
I practice pieces every other day and try to keep it at no more than 30-40m per piece. Part of it that was not mentioned in this video is that just like you wouldn't listen to a song on repeat for hours and hours for days straight, listening to yourself practice the same song over and over can get boring. This is why it's so important to have a variety in repertoire. I rather make small meaningful progress each time I practice than to burn myself out and end up hating the piece and dropping it.
Yes, I find that keeping it to 30-40m per day per piece is best. I practice evenings only. I do see an improvement the next day. I typically work on 3 or 4 pieces at the same time, over many weeks/months. Self taught.
You are the best teacher. Finally, my question has been answered on item two : developing strict fingering. At 73 I’m enjoying learning how to play, with my goal of learning how to read; it’s like learning a language- love the challenge. You break down lessons with practical explanations. My biggest block has been my using any finger as long as got to the notes in time, especially my left hand. Thanks much for the how-to get “unstuck.” Great video.
A very important think is the metronome. A very frustrating thing is those difficult part we occult. While training we tend to slow down when difficulties occur. You get a very better idea of those part you need to work with the metronome and if you level down the speed of the easy part to a speed you can cope on the entire peace you'll get less frustrated because you'll be able to play the whole peace faster. The worst frustration is when you feel like you'll never get to the end of the peace essentially because you're stuck. Sometimes it's a question of playing slower and more regularly.
Here are Timestamps to help guide you: 🕘 Timestamps 0:00 Intro 1:02 1st Tip 2:05 2nd Tip 3:03 3rd Tip 4:00 4th Tip 5:23 5th Tip 5:56 Bonus 1 7:14 Bonus 2 9:25 Bonus 3 🤓
The difficulty thing ... when my teacher suggested that a Beethoven piece I was in love with was too difficult for me, that just made me more determined. And I won! She also taught with the practice of omitting pieces her students didn't like, which is fairly obvious. There will be no happiness in forcing something on a student, knowing it will lead to failure. I'm glad you have such a happy approach to learning, thank you Jazer.
I've shown students to play other songs while getting good at harder ones. I had one student that came in and didn't know chords on piano! Shr could read sheet music pretty good,, but didn't have much chords knowledge. It opens up a lot of music ability and you start to notice patterns and learn songs much faster
I thought I would play a lot the last two weeks of 2022 since I was off work, but I took a break... and then went back last night and played the piece I'm working on better than ever. Sometimes you just need to rest your head and fingers.
I started "la valse d'Amélie" From Yann Tiersen. I don't progress as quickly as I wish, but I keep going, because like all the other pieces I've worked on, when I'm done with it, it brings me such happiness and confidence, and each peace teaches me new techniques. Thanks for your tips Jazer. It helped me à lot through the last 2 years 🙂
I’m starting off with a thumbs up just because you’re addressing this important topic. Thank you! I set piano to the side for a time while I had young children paired with zero sleep, and now coming back to piano I’m working on bringing back my old repertoire. It’s been rough but your videos really help. I’m also working on memorizing so I have a handful of beloved pieces in my back pocket. Very good points in this video. For me, the tip about working on pieces that are not too hard is important to remember. I can’t simply pick up where I left off years ago.
I like starting with technique, such as arpeggios, broken chords, scales, one per day but in all keys, then continue learning a song, then finishing with video lessons (I am a Pianote member). Doing that every day - every day - has been very good to my progress.
You are the best thing that happened to piano teaching since the great composers. You should be the template of piano and music education. Thank you for not missing a beat..
Your content is always some of the best I see here on UA-cam, practical, worth incorporating into my regimen. I found especially useful the hands-separate plus having multiple pieces that you're working on. One other thing not mentioned that works for me is to never practice the same piece every day. I find if I give it some rest between sessions, my synapses or those brain bundles or whatever they are, have a chance to form and when I return in a day or 2, things go much more fluidly. Looking forward to all your vids Jazer.
I have no teacher. Played as a child, played while raising my family though much less, and now retired, it fills my day. I'm learning theory at 60 years old and it's changing my world. I listen for songs on youtube, I've found my fav (comfortable) arrangers. I first loved Dietmar Stienhauer, moved on to Neil Archer and Sangha Noona, and now trying Francisco Parrino. I always buy music that is too hard for me because I can learn something from it even if I can't complete the piece. Who am I kidding? I am no Francisco Parrino ... I wasn't trained ... but I can try. Piano is a deep deep well. I look at that as a positive ... always more to learn. I will adopt the separate hands ideas and stop sight reading over and over. This music now is hard and deserves to be broken down and really studied. Thank you for your tips on boredom!
So great that you have posted another terrific video, Jazer! Your tips are “spot on” and resonate very well with me. You are a natural educator! Currently working on Traumerei by Shuman. Practicing and playing piano is a Wellness activity for me - it is mindful, meditative, focused, and stress reducing. I like to play at night when I am a little tired because I am more relaxed - always looking for beautiful slow sad pieces in a minor key, intermediate level!…
Thank you so much for inspiring me. I started piano at 6 years old, and now in my mid-60s I'm on my 4th attempt to make my playing sound like I feel it in my heart 😂 I think in this video you have pretty much nailed all the reasons I've failed so far, but this time I feel completely different. Thank you 🙏🙏
Really good tips and very helpful. Thank you Jazer. I am self taught...I learned through UA-cam tutorials, read books and learned theories. I find myself slow in learning but managed to learn a song, as you said...by breaking it to small pieces. I learned the song measure by measure then put it together until I finish the song. In 12 months, I was able to learn 7 songs and play them through muscle memory without reading the sheet music anymore. Your channel has helped me a lot and I am so grateful to you. Keep sharing us your tips and more power to your channel !!!👏👏👏
After 1 year of playing piano, I am at thr level to play Fur Elise, River Flows in you or Comptine d un autre ete. Now I have chosen Ballade Pour Adeleine, but so far it seems over what I'm capable of. Another progression would be to properly read from the notes instead of copying youtube tutorials slow down to 50% speed. And yes, the biggest challenge to finish the piece to the end is to keep loving it when you practice the melody for a thousand time :) Thank you Jazer for all your videos, you are a great motivator. Your fan Stan the Man :)
Hi Jazer - just wanted to say - What a brilliant video, and so eloquent and well put. Having played for a few years now, I know that this vid really offers great advice. My 'dream' piece to play is Gershwin's That Certain Feeling. But luckily I understand that it is above my 'pay grade' at the moment so I am NOT attempting it (yet) and therefore am not getting demotivated. One day I'll get there!
Maestro Jazer: very useful advices (as always). Yes, you right, sometimes we get bored or lose motivation after a couple of weeks with a new piece but following your suggestions, we can overcome the problem. Un abrazo from La Palma of one of your many fans.
So I've been playing piano for a little over a year. I have a theory degree and I've been playing music my entire life, so I've progressed pretty quickly. Gate of Steiner from the anime steins;gate is the piece that made me start piano, and I've spent the last year working on several other pieces to get my chops up to the level that I can start learning it. Well last week I sat at my keyboard for my monthly attempt at gate of Steiner and finally broke through the skill ceiling that had held me back all this time. It's a beautiful piece, and it felt amazing for all my hard work to pay off. I recommend giving the piece a listen. It's probably fairly easy for an expert like yourself, but I'm sure you will enjoy it nevertheless.
Thank you so much for your videos. They help so much! I love how you tackle the little nuances of the piano-learning experience by addressing the psychology behind learning and breaking through mindset obstacles to enhance the process of mastering a piece. Thank you thank you!
Thank you so much for posting this video. I am 53 years old, and just now started learning to play. Today was the third day I did these exercises, and they really help.
Great tips, thank you. Love your choices: just found the music for Fur Elise, which I bought 40 years ago, & have begun to learn the core melody, bit by bit. Now, after some 5 years as an adult beginner (very slow learner here) I have enough skills to be able to start. Very challenged from ~ Bar 25 -35 & the section from about Bar 60, beginning with the repeated Left hand bass A staccatos. But it now seems to lie within the realm of the possible. Yes - enjoying the wonder of seeing the musical structures unfold as I learn it, after a lifetime listening.
Hi I would just like to say how inspiring, informative, and very well articulated your presentations are. You explain everything simply and passionately. As an adult piano player myself I have gained valuable advice and tips from watching you which has really improved my playing. Your videos have made me become much more mindful of my playing which has helped me slow down my playing and try not to rush a piece so much and also helped with my body/finger tension. I am an adult piano student in my 50 s and have been playing for 7 years. I have completed my ABRSM grade 1-5 music theory and I am about to take my ABRSM grade 3 piano practical exam in the next few weeks having completed grades 1 and 2. Do you have any advice on how to control nerves whilst taking my exam? Thank you keep producing these videos very much appreciated. Best on youtube. Kind Regards Tracy
Good luck w ur exam, Tracy!! I just took my Royal Conservatory of Music Prep B exam & although I was shaking I was so anxious, I started to calm down as I played & I did well!! You got this!!!!
I’m learning Leopold Mozart’s Minuet in C for Nannerl Having a little difficulty going from section to section in tempo. I like your suggestion about playing hands separately first a few times, and playing each section repeatedly to develop & retain muscle memory.
I’m like 1 year self taught and a lot of people say I’m gifted because I see a piece I wanna learn, and I go and learn it and I’m thinking of taking up lessons to this guy I know who works partially at the school for lessons in class times and I was thinking of doing it for the next 2 years untill end of grade 12 to improve my skill, technique, and general music theory. The first piece i tried learning that was up there in difficulty was moonlight sonata 3rd movement.. I love this piece so much and i it took me 8 months to learn like 10 seconds of the scaling because I was in and out and I eventually got it and am learning the up and down scaling technique but I’m taking a break from that piece, and it’s been like 3 weeks, but now I’m learning a piece from Chopin’s etudes, etude no4 torrent, and I love everything about it, all the things you said about the piece your learning and what you like about it, tick all my boxes! I’m 2 weeks in learning it no sheet music pure muscle memory after learning the notes and I can play the first 11 seconds, im happy to get the piano teacher im going to see also help me in my technique but I can play it properly at about 90-120 bpm tempo. I’m definitely not getting bored of this piece as I listen to it all the time and I can’t get enough of it!!
Great video Jazer, thanks for putting it together. I do get bored occasionally with songs I'm working on, typically the reason is that I've started it but realize after a while it doesn't have the elements to keep my interest. For me, I feel that letting a song go isn't a bad thing, I've got enough great ones that are still interesting to me years later and new ones coming along all the time that I don't feel bad if not every song I start is a keeper. :-)
I am now learning May Be by Yiruma. It sounds like a really spectacular and pleasant summer melody. I have started playing piano only for 2 months, and this piece is not so easy but, in my opinion, achievable for me. I think I will be able to play it completely in next 2 or 3 months.😇
Clair de Lune! I've been able to play the first half for years, found the second half very challenging, now I'm learning it I realised it's just a mental block, it's no more challenging than Fantasie Impromptu but I didn't initially like the change from individual notes on the left hand so I gave up, I'm glad I've picked it back up it's such a lovely piece.
Muchas gracias por los consejos Maestro, hace poco me di cuenta que fallaba bastante en repetir y repetir con diferentes digitaciones sin llegar a ningún lugar, lo que causaba confusión a mi mente, así que comencé a cambiar eso y vaya que fue muy positivo, ahora cada vez que empiezo a practicar una nueva pieza me centro en escoger una digitación.
Despite the fact that my mother tongue is Spanish, and I don't handle English very well, your channel is one of the few that has really helped me a lot to improve my virtual piano learning; so... thank you very much!!
Hi, Jazer! I really enjoy watching your videos. They are very helpful, motivating and I like the way you talk - it is not boring 👍 😀 I use some of your tips when I practise and it helps 😊 Thank you!
great tips! as a harmonica player i can easily translate them to my practice routine; even the one on fingering. on a chromatic harmonica each F and most C's can be played as blow and draw notes, and with the slider in or out. which ones you choose makes the figure or sentence easier to play or sound better in the context of the section or the whole piece. so using the same specific blow/draw note sequences helps with muscle memory, a very important skill for every harmonica player because we really can't see what we're doing ...
I don't mind to temporarily drop a song. It's been 2 times already that I stopped playing Zanarkan, same for Moonlight Sonata. I have a lot of satisfaction in learning small pieces. I consider that if I struggle with the simpler RCM 1 pieces I'm not ready yet for the tougher one. So for now, I trying to build a strong foundation. I'm not in for a sprint but a marathon.
Thank you so much for your advice!! I struggle with playing fast pieces, and having to play them slowly is so frustrating for me because I’m impatient lol, but it does work!
Hi Jazer! Thanks for your videos. I used to play piano but haven’t practiced for very long, and your videos helps a lot refreshing my piano skill. One thing I’m still struggling a lot with is doing jumps from one spot on the keyboard to another, especially if I jump from one chord to another chord. Do you have tips to help practice these jumps? Keep doing what you do! It’s great!
I greatly appreciate your helpful input on dealing with boredom, Jazer. You inspired a lot of great input from followers with this post, too. I second the request from Shub Shub for getting your input on jumps. I have been studying piano many years and have slowly picked up and invented several specific techniques for progressing through challenging jumps, but I am always looking for more ways to move through these obstacles fast enough not to have them ruin my initial enthusiasm about a piece of music.
One thing I do, after I warm up with scales or chord inversions, or both, is to play a piece I almost know, hands separately, very slowly. Paying close attention to mistakes in fingering, or dynamics. When it starts to get 'meh' I either change to another piece I'm learning, or switch to goofing around on the keys for a few minutes, looking for interesting harmonies or such. Then I spank myself and get back to the piece 😁
Something I've started doing is to try playing a piece, or just one passage, in all the different keys, to help commit the sound to memory and get a feel of the relationship between the intervals in a passage.
I don't get bored with pieces but you are exactly right about the pitfalls of choosing a piece outside of one's skill set. Perhaps you can do a video on this topic? How to choose a piece. I enjoyed your 7 piano pieces beginners should play video but still can use some help choosing music in other genres. Happy New Year!
Hi Jazer, i love your charismatic aproach playing the piano, it motivates me to like practicing like i never experienced it before, i thank you so much giving me such a pack of motivation 👏👏👏
It was a great surprise yet exciting to bump you in person today! Thanks for sharing your piano skills through the channel, I leant a lot from you! All the best
Great video, I struggle with this problem all the time. Could you please make a specific video on tip 3: Strict fingering? I often struggle finding the most efficient way to move across a piece.. Could you please offer advice on how one can tackle this challenge. A piece example is of Spring Waltz (Frédéric Chopin, Franz Schubert and Felix Mendelssohn).
Youve literally played almost every song on my learn to play list. I just bought my piano recently and my inspiration was also Nocturne in C sharp minor from The Pianist 😅. Thank you for these tips!
I like starting with the minor and major scales get a good Beginners book with them and arpeggios. This really helped me. Good luck and don't give up. -)
Struggling with the scales on nocturne c , this video inspired me to continue , as the piece is in the video, like a sign from above to keep on trucking 😊
I agree. when I am too excited to finish the piece I tried to do it with both hands however it did not work out, it was difficult and challenging and I end up lacking the interest to finish it. Thanks for the tips. 😉
I think this really helps me because I’ve been taught piano for many years, and the reason I think I still have a hard time is because when my teacher taught me something she quickly taught me the next thing. I didn’t get the time to understand and I didn’t ask questions.
Hi Jazer, Do you have any tips on how to improve posture for spending a longer time practicing and playing? I can usually get about 45 minutes in before my back starts to hurt from holding my arms out and probably from paying attention only to the notes, rather than my posture. I'm sure I'm sitting too far back and not sitting up straight, but if I was ever taught about posture during my lessons, I've forgotten. Thanks!
I started working on Nocturne Op 9 No 2 a little over a month ago. This piece is more advanced than my current level but I am very motivated to learn it as it is my favorite classical piece. I’m almost to the end and just working on all the harder bits. I find that taking things a few measures at a time helps me learn faster. I also work on easier pieces too and mix it up in my practice sessions.
@@jazerleepiano thank you! I can now play the entire piece. I still make mistakes along the way but I keep working on it. It’s one of those pieces that I will keep playing the rest of my life because it is so beautiful. Hopefully I will keep improving on it while learning new pieces too. Love your channel and appreciate your tips.
I'm struggling with Moonlight Sonata 3rd movement at around the 1 min mark, 3 min and 5 min mark with the parts that go (BBBBB Bb Ab G & the EEEEE Eb Db C partvwith the left hand jumps) when the melody switches to the left hand, the part near the end of mostly right hand going up and down the piano and the ending arpeggio. I can play it at around 72 bpm rn but speeding up is a struggle.
Hey, love your content and I hope you will make a video about how to actually press piano keys to get a consistent volume on different hands and fingers. I am a beginner and this is the topic I have a hard time to find info on. I heard that there are two ways to get low and high volume sounds but it seems it is hard to grasp an idea on how to press keys correctly. It becomes harder when I need to go from finger 5 to 1 or in chords or mixing black and white keys succession or in a chord. Would love to learn this topic with your teaching style. Thanks for you content!
I'm starting to watch your videos. I have been having lessons for 6 months. I play right hand well. I play left hand well too. When I play both hands I have difficulty
Hi Jazer, I am very grateful to you for everything, I enjoy watching your videos, I have a few questions, What is the difference between arpeggios and broken chords? Could you show some examples how to practice them? Thank you a lot Jazer
I've taken piano lessons for a total of about three years. A year at age 12. Then again for two years in my early fourties, which, at this time my piano teacher bailed on me. Said I knew enough to continue on my own. Well, sorry to say, I stopped playing soon after that. I'm now 71 and three years ago got my books out again and started to refresh what I knew and try to teach myself more. It's not working very well. I'm into the grade 3 book, but, I haven't really mastered the songs in my second year book. I've followed your instruction in prior videos and practice one hand at a time and can eventually put them together but not without mistakes. I also seem to have a cycle of I play well one day, the following day I can't play at all, the next day, good again. I know I need help with technic on some songs. I guess I need a teacher. I'm having trouble talking myself into making a 45 mile round trip drive once a week for lessons. 😖 But, I'll keep at it. Thanks for the videos. Happy New Year. 😃
Fly me to the moon. And the problem you mention has hounded every pice I’ve tried. I get bored / frustrated after getting the hang of the main melody. In most of my selected pieces I see the same pattern repeat, but with lots of minor changes ( a lot of Beatles songs for instance). Great tips - thanks
So, is it bad to start a new piece in the middle of the song? Like when the song crescendos into the favorite part you like to hear? Thank you again for all your advice! I always get excited for a new helpful video! 😁
I do exactly as he says That’s how I’ve been working on pieces but I used to start pieces I liked from the beginning and then drop them half way through because they were too difficult What I do now is I start learning the piece from the difficult part or whatever the part that I like is. If I succeed and I like what I hear then I’ll do the beginning and the rest of the piece That way I’m not wasting my time so you can start working on a piece from anywhere you like really And it’s actually better it will avoid getting bored
For me, I rarely start at the beginning. I will break it into pieces and often tackle the tough parts first. Once I have a handle on them, I'll add additional sections. Your comment about starting at the favorite spot is also a good idea, might as well focus on the parts we really like as a starting point.
Such a good video!!! Ty a la so much for this!!! I’m currently learning Liszt’s Serenade. I’m in love with all Melodie’s and this is going to help out with some techniques about the piece! Thank you!
I enjoyed your playing. Would you like to guide me as a beginner how to play hard songs like Jesus be a fence all around me by Fred Hammond? I love the melody and the words so much as a vocalist.
I love your videos! So helpful and interesting!!! Great advice. Please keep them coming. My problem is finding more than 30 mins per day to devote to practice.
im learning nocturne op 9 no2, i have been studying piano for just a month or two, but i play till the part you just played quite decent, i have learned fur elise before this piece, its taking a lot more time and effort
I’m teaching myself the accompaniment to Andrew Lloyd Webbers Pie Jesu. It’s a struggle but I’m determined to finish it. I’ve loved that piece ever since I heard it several years ago with the Andre Rieu orchestra.
I've studied piano since 1971. Everything you teach is spot-on-the-money. Parents should find a teacher like you from the beginning.
One piece of advice which stuck with me was given by Andras Schiff whilst giving a masterclass. He used words to the effect: "Practice slowly if you want, but *always* practice musically". Every note can be a gem.
Love this also! I say the same things to my students!
Una Mattina by Ludovico Einaudi 😊
Sonatina op 36
“To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable.”
― Ludwig van Beethoven :)
One thing I love to do is play the piece in a swing rhythm. This makes it a little harder, but when it’s a technical piece like a Chopin etude, it actually helps you clean up the passages.
I practice pieces every other day and try to keep it at no more than 30-40m per piece. Part of it that was not mentioned in this video is that just like you wouldn't listen to a song on repeat for hours and hours for days straight, listening to yourself practice the same song over and over can get boring. This is why it's so important to have a variety in repertoire. I rather make small meaningful progress each time I practice than to burn myself out and end up hating the piece and dropping it.
I love your analogy here - I’m always telling my students not to practice for hours and hours on end - this is a great analogy. Thanks!
Yes, I find that keeping it to 30-40m per day per piece is best. I practice evenings only. I do see an improvement the next day. I typically work on 3 or 4 pieces at the same time, over many weeks/months. Self taught.
This is so true. I practiced La Campenalla no life, and when I finally could play the whole piece I never played it again because it became so boring.
I love this comment
You are the best teacher. Finally, my question has been answered on item two : developing strict fingering. At 73 I’m enjoying learning how to play, with my goal of learning how to read; it’s like learning a language- love the challenge. You break down lessons with practical explanations. My biggest block has been my using any finger as long as got to the notes in time, especially my left hand. Thanks much for the how-to get “unstuck.” Great video.
A very important think is the metronome. A very frustrating thing is those difficult part we occult. While training we tend to slow down when difficulties occur. You get a very better idea of those part you need to work with the metronome and if you level down the speed of the easy part to a speed you can cope on the entire peace you'll get less frustrated because you'll be able to play the whole peace faster. The worst frustration is when you feel like you'll never get to the end of the peace essentially because you're stuck. Sometimes it's a question of playing slower and more regularly.
Here are Timestamps to help guide you:
🕘 Timestamps
0:00 Intro
1:02 1st Tip
2:05 2nd Tip
3:03 3rd Tip
4:00 4th Tip
5:23 5th Tip
5:56 Bonus 1
7:14 Bonus 2
9:25 Bonus 3
🤓
Thanks sir
Wonderful wisdom Jazer
Thank you Jazer!🙏
The difficulty thing ... when my teacher suggested that a Beethoven piece I was in love with was too difficult for me, that just made me more determined. And I won!
She also taught with the practice of omitting pieces her students didn't like, which is fairly obvious. There will be no happiness in forcing something on a student, knowing it will lead to failure.
I'm glad you have such a happy approach to learning, thank you Jazer.
@LearnPianoWithJazerLee.. ???
I've shown students to play other songs while getting good at harder ones. I had one student that came in and didn't know chords on piano! Shr could read sheet music pretty good,, but didn't have much chords knowledge. It opens up a lot of music ability and you start to notice patterns and learn songs much faster
I thought I would play a lot the last two weeks of 2022 since I was off work, but I took a break... and then went back last night and played the piece I'm working on better than ever. Sometimes you just need to rest your head and fingers.
I started "la valse d'Amélie" From Yann Tiersen. I don't progress as quickly as I wish, but I keep going, because like all the other pieces I've worked on, when I'm done with it, it brings me such happiness and confidence, and each peace teaches me new techniques.
Thanks for your tips Jazer. It helped me à lot through the last 2 years 🙂
I’m starting off with a thumbs up just because you’re addressing this important topic. Thank you! I set piano to the side for a time while I had young children paired with zero sleep, and now coming back to piano I’m working on bringing back my old repertoire. It’s been rough but your videos really help. I’m also working on memorizing so I have a handful of beloved pieces in my back pocket. Very good points in this video. For me, the tip about working on pieces that are not too hard is important to remember. I can’t simply pick up where I left off years ago.
I do hope you have had the chance to pick up from where you left years ago. If not, it's okay. Slow and steady is how it goes.
I like starting with technique, such as arpeggios, broken chords, scales, one per day but in all keys, then continue learning a song, then finishing with video lessons (I am a Pianote member). Doing that every day - every day - has been very good to my progress.
0:00 Intro
1:02 Tip 1
2:04 Tip 2
3:02 Tip 3
4:00 Tip 4
5:24 Tip 5
5:54 Bonus 1
7:14 Bonus 2
9:25 Bonus 3🎉
LOVE THE SONGS THAT YOU PLAY 🎉❤
Jazer I'd love to listen to a video of just you playing some songs. It's so nice to listen to!
Great video, thank you
You are the best thing that happened to piano teaching since the great composers. You should be the template of piano and music education. Thank you for not missing a beat..
Danke!
Your content is always some of the best I see here on UA-cam, practical, worth incorporating into my regimen. I found especially useful the hands-separate plus having multiple pieces that you're working on. One other thing not mentioned that works for me is to never practice the same piece every day. I find if I give it some rest between sessions, my synapses or those brain bundles or whatever they are, have a chance to form and when I return in a day or 2, things go much more fluidly. Looking forward to all your vids Jazer.
I am glad my tips and tutorials has helped a lot! 🤓
Great advice! I’m working on La Fille au Cheveux de Lin and I sometimes take it ONE MEASURE at a time, depending on the measure!
I have no teacher. Played as a child, played while raising my family though much less, and now retired, it fills my day. I'm learning theory at 60 years old and it's changing my world. I listen for songs on youtube, I've found my fav (comfortable) arrangers. I first loved Dietmar Stienhauer, moved on to Neil Archer and Sangha Noona, and now trying Francisco Parrino. I always buy music that is too hard for me because I can learn something from it even if I can't complete the piece. Who am I kidding? I am no Francisco Parrino ... I wasn't trained ... but I can try. Piano is a deep deep well. I look at that as a positive ... always more to learn. I will adopt the separate hands ideas and stop sight reading over and over. This music now is hard and deserves to be broken down and really studied. Thank you for your tips on boredom!
So great that you have posted another terrific video, Jazer! Your tips are “spot on” and resonate very well with me. You are a natural educator! Currently working on Traumerei by Shuman. Practicing and playing piano is a Wellness activity for me - it is mindful, meditative, focused, and stress reducing. I like to play at night when I am a little tired because I am more relaxed - always looking for beautiful slow sad pieces in a minor key, intermediate level!…
I do that, too, play beautiful slow music to help me calm down and relax. 🤓🤓
Thank you so much for inspiring me. I started piano at 6 years old, and now in my mid-60s I'm on my 4th attempt to make my playing sound like I feel it in my heart 😂 I think in this video you have pretty much nailed all the reasons I've failed so far, but this time I feel completely different. Thank you 🙏🙏
Really good tips and very helpful. Thank you Jazer. I am self taught...I learned through UA-cam tutorials, read books and learned theories. I find myself slow in learning but managed to learn a song, as you said...by breaking it to small pieces. I learned the song measure by measure then put it together until I finish the song.
In 12 months, I was able to learn 7 songs and play them through muscle memory without reading the sheet music anymore.
Your channel has helped me a lot and I am so grateful to you. Keep sharing us your tips and more power to your channel !!!👏👏👏
After 1 year of playing piano, I am at thr level to play Fur Elise, River Flows in you or Comptine d un autre ete. Now I have chosen Ballade Pour Adeleine, but so far it seems over what I'm capable of.
Another progression would be to properly read from the notes instead of copying youtube tutorials slow down to 50% speed. And yes, the biggest challenge to finish the piece to the end is to keep loving it when you practice the melody for a thousand time :)
Thank you Jazer for all your videos, you are a great motivator.
Your fan Stan the Man :)
Hi Jazer - just wanted to say - What a brilliant video, and so eloquent and well put. Having played for a few years now, I know that this vid really offers great advice. My 'dream' piece to play is Gershwin's That Certain Feeling. But luckily I understand that it is above my 'pay grade' at the moment so I am NOT attempting it (yet) and therefore am not getting demotivated. One day I'll get there!
Maestro Jazer: very useful advices (as always). Yes, you right, sometimes we get bored or lose motivation after a couple of weeks with a new piece but following your suggestions, we can overcome the problem. Un abrazo from La Palma of one of your many fans.
So I've been playing piano for a little over a year. I have a theory degree and I've been playing music my entire life, so I've progressed pretty quickly. Gate of Steiner from the anime steins;gate is the piece that made me start piano, and I've spent the last year working on several other pieces to get my chops up to the level that I can start learning it. Well last week I sat at my keyboard for my monthly attempt at gate of Steiner and finally broke through the skill ceiling that had held me back all this time. It's a beautiful piece, and it felt amazing for all my hard work to pay off.
I recommend giving the piece a listen. It's probably fairly easy for an expert like yourself, but I'm sure you will enjoy it nevertheless.
Thank you so much for your videos. They help so much! I love how you tackle the little nuances of the piano-learning experience by addressing the psychology behind learning and breaking through mindset obstacles to enhance the process of mastering a piece. Thank you thank you!
Thank you so much for posting this video. I am 53 years old, and just now started learning to play. Today was the third day I did these exercises, and they really help.
Glad you have started to play again, Ave Easley. I am with you all the way.
Great tips, thank you. Love your choices: just found the music for Fur Elise, which I bought 40 years ago, & have begun to learn the core melody, bit by bit. Now, after some 5 years as an adult beginner (very slow learner here) I have enough skills to be able to start. Very challenged from ~ Bar 25 -35 & the section from about Bar 60, beginning with the repeated Left hand bass A staccatos. But it now seems to lie within the realm of the possible. Yes - enjoying the wonder of seeing the musical structures unfold as I learn it, after a lifetime listening.
Hi
I would just like to say how inspiring, informative, and very well articulated your presentations are. You explain everything simply and passionately. As an adult piano player myself I have gained valuable advice and tips from watching you which has really improved my playing. Your videos have made me become much more mindful of my playing which has helped me slow down my playing and try not to rush a piece so much and also helped with my body/finger tension.
I am an adult piano student in my 50 s and have been playing for 7 years. I have completed my ABRSM grade 1-5 music theory and I am about to take my ABRSM grade 3 piano practical exam in the next few weeks having completed grades 1 and 2. Do you have any advice on how to control nerves whilst taking my exam?
Thank you keep producing these videos very much appreciated. Best on youtube.
Kind Regards
Tracy
Good luck w ur exam, Tracy!! I just took my Royal Conservatory of Music Prep B exam & although I was shaking I was so anxious, I started to calm down as I played & I did well!! You got this!!!!
I’m learning Leopold Mozart’s Minuet in C for Nannerl
Having a little difficulty going from section to section in tempo. I like your suggestion about playing hands separately first a few times, and playing each section repeatedly to develop & retain muscle memory.
I’m like 1 year self taught and a lot of people say I’m gifted because I see a piece I wanna learn, and I go and learn it and I’m thinking of taking up lessons to this guy I know who works partially at the school for lessons in class times and I was thinking of doing it for the next 2 years untill end of grade 12 to improve my skill, technique, and general music theory. The first piece i tried learning that was up there in difficulty was moonlight sonata 3rd movement.. I love this piece so much and i it took me 8 months to learn like 10 seconds of the scaling because I was in and out and I eventually got it and am learning the up and down scaling technique but I’m taking a break from that piece, and it’s been like 3 weeks, but now I’m learning a piece from Chopin’s etudes, etude no4 torrent, and I love everything about it, all the things you said about the piece your learning and what you like about it, tick all my boxes! I’m 2 weeks in learning it no sheet music pure muscle memory after learning the notes and I can play the first 11 seconds, im happy to get the piano teacher im going to see also help me in my technique but I can play it properly at about 90-120 bpm tempo. I’m definitely not getting bored of this piece as I listen to it all the time and I can’t get enough of it!!
Great video Jazer, thanks for putting it together. I do get bored occasionally with songs I'm working on, typically the reason is that I've started it but realize after a while it doesn't have the elements to keep my interest. For me, I feel that letting a song go isn't a bad thing, I've got enough great ones that are still interesting to me years later and new ones coming along all the time that I don't feel bad if not every song I start is a keeper. :-)
I am now learning May Be by Yiruma. It sounds like a really spectacular and pleasant summer melody. I have started playing piano only for 2 months, and this piece is not so easy but, in my opinion, achievable for me. I think I will be able to play it completely in next 2 or 3 months.😇
Good luck on your journey ❤️
I agree with @佳璇王 and I am with you all the way.
Clair de Lune! I've been able to play the first half for years, found the second half very challenging, now I'm learning it I realised it's just a mental block, it's no more challenging than Fantasie Impromptu but I didn't initially like the change from individual notes on the left hand so I gave up, I'm glad I've picked it back up it's such a lovely piece.
Muchas gracias por los consejos Maestro, hace poco me di cuenta que fallaba bastante en repetir y repetir con diferentes digitaciones sin llegar a ningún lugar, lo que causaba confusión a mi mente, así que comencé a cambiar eso y vaya que fue muy positivo, ahora cada vez que empiezo a practicar una nueva pieza me centro en escoger una digitación.
Despite the fact that my mother tongue is Spanish, and I don't handle English very well, your channel is one of the few that has really helped me a lot to improve my virtual piano learning; so... thank you very much!!
Hi, Jazer! I really enjoy watching your videos. They are very helpful, motivating and I like the way you talk - it is not boring 👍 😀 I use some of your tips when I practise and it helps 😊 Thank you!
I play this nocturnes now, and that pieces are very Melodic and Lyrical! I love play Chopin's pieces, because that pieces are very soulful
great tips! as a harmonica player i can easily translate them to my practice routine; even the one on fingering. on a chromatic harmonica each F and most C's can be played as blow and draw notes, and with the slider in or out. which ones you choose makes the figure or sentence easier to play or sound better in the context of the section or the whole piece. so using the same specific blow/draw note sequences helps with muscle memory, a very important skill for every harmonica player because we really can't see what we're doing ...
Can wait to finish presto thank you for your help
Your videos are very valuable. I really appreciate them all.
I don't mind to temporarily drop a song. It's been 2 times already that I stopped playing Zanarkan, same for Moonlight Sonata. I have a lot of satisfaction in learning small pieces. I consider that if I struggle with the simpler RCM 1 pieces I'm not ready yet for the tougher one. So for now, I trying to build a strong foundation. I'm not in for a sprint but a marathon.
Thank you so much for your advice!! I struggle with playing fast pieces, and having to play them slowly is so frustrating for me because I’m impatient lol, but it does work!
THe video i need : 5 steps to finish your own creations
relative chords is certainly the direction i have to follow
good video as usual
Great teaching approach and execution.
I'm a beginner of the Kalimba, but I love your advice, and would like to get a digital piano in the future.
thanks, jazer
for the lovely video .. really helped to understand our own flaws and weakness in the practice of piano.
Hi Jazer! Thanks for your videos. I used to play piano but haven’t practiced for very long, and your videos helps a lot refreshing my piano skill. One thing I’m still struggling a lot with is doing jumps from one spot on the keyboard to another, especially if I jump from one chord to another chord. Do you have tips to help practice these jumps? Keep doing what you do! It’s great!
I greatly appreciate your helpful input on dealing with boredom, Jazer. You inspired a lot of great input from followers with this post, too. I second the request from Shub Shub for getting your input on jumps. I have been studying piano many years and have slowly picked up and invented several specific techniques for progressing through challenging jumps, but I am always looking for more ways to move through these obstacles fast enough not to have them ruin my initial enthusiasm about a piece of music.
Now I'm playing River flows in you by Yiruma. I can practice it for hours)) I love everything about this piece! Thanks for the video!
This is very true! The brain needs time to process the new information. Sometimes you literally need to “sleep on it” and allow it to sink in.
Good stuff. Hadn't heard of the Rumba Tocatta before! Sounds like a super fun piece to play.
One thing I do, after I warm up with scales or chord inversions, or both, is to play a piece I almost know, hands separately, very slowly. Paying close attention to mistakes in fingering, or dynamics. When it starts to get 'meh' I either change to another piece I'm learning, or switch to goofing around on the keys for a few minutes, looking for interesting harmonies or such. Then I spank myself and get back to the piece 😁
Thanks for your professionalism I use to do this but have gotten away from it. I will be returning.thanks again man good job!
Something I've started doing is to try playing a piece, or just one passage, in all the different keys, to help commit the sound to memory and get a feel of the relationship between the intervals in a passage.
I don't get bored with pieces but you are exactly right about the pitfalls of choosing a piece outside of one's skill set. Perhaps you can do a video on this topic? How to choose a piece. I enjoyed your 7 piano pieces beginners should play video but still can use some help choosing music in other genres. Happy New Year!
Hi Jazer, i love your charismatic aproach playing the piano, it motivates me to like practicing like i never experienced it before, i thank you so much giving me such a pack of motivation 👏👏👏
Bro took the words straight out of me. Lol
It was a great surprise yet exciting to bump you in person today! Thanks for sharing your piano skills through the channel, I leant a lot from you! All the best
Great video,
I struggle with this problem all the time.
Could you please make a specific video on tip 3: Strict fingering?
I often struggle finding the most efficient way to move across a piece..
Could you please offer advice on how one can tackle this challenge. A piece example is of Spring Waltz (Frédéric Chopin, Franz Schubert and Felix Mendelssohn).
Thank you Jazer... You are a wonderful teacher!
I'm so glad you're posting these videos - they are wonderful. I'm going to take notes.
Thanks Lee. It's great to learn piano with you. I love your videos!!
Youve literally played almost every song on my learn to play list. I just bought my piano recently and my inspiration was also Nocturne in C sharp minor from The Pianist 😅.
Thank you for these tips!
Once again, great tips from a great teacher !!! Thanks Jazer !!! Greetings from Argentina !
Thank you so much for all of your tips and help for learning how to play piano. Could you give tips on how to read music sheets easier?
I like starting with the minor and major scales get a good Beginners book with them and arpeggios. This really helped me. Good luck and don't give up. -)
I have mini lessons on my FB/IG pages on how to read music.
You are amazing! I just LOVE your videos! Thank you! Maureen from Argentina😊
Struggling with the scales on nocturne c , this video inspired me to continue , as the piece is in the video, like a sign from above to keep on trucking 😊
I agree. when I am too excited to finish the piece I tried to do it with both hands however it did not work out, it was difficult and challenging and I end up lacking the interest to finish it. Thanks for the tips. 😉
I think this really helps me because I’ve been taught piano for many years, and the reason I think I still have a hard time is because when my teacher taught me something she quickly taught me the next thing. I didn’t get the time to understand and I didn’t ask questions.
GREAT ADVICE! Thank you! Always a pleasure to watch your videos!
Your video is really useful
🌹🎹 I'm a self-taught pianist and your tipps are so helpful for me...thank you so much for your great videos...
good job Mr Lee
Hi Jazer,
Do you have any tips on how to improve posture for spending a longer time practicing and playing? I can usually get about 45 minutes in before my back starts to hurt from holding my arms out and probably from paying attention only to the notes, rather than my posture. I'm sure I'm sitting too far back and not sitting up straight, but if I was ever taught about posture during my lessons, I've forgotten. Thanks!
God bless you bro
Jazer it's so refreshing and wonderful to see you in person again! Do you ever take on new students online?
Hi Laurie, apologies for the delay in response. I am currently not taking any online students right now but I will be releasing a piano course soon.
Thank you so much I watched your video a month ago and now I am a pro never thought this would happen❤
Glad it helped!
I started working on Nocturne Op 9 No 2 a little over a month ago. This piece is more advanced than my current level but I am very motivated to learn it as it is my favorite classical piece. I’m almost to the end and just working on all the harder bits. I find that taking things a few measures at a time helps me learn faster. I also work on easier pieces too and mix it up in my practice sessions.
That's a great way to learn and practice!
@@jazerleepiano thank you! I can now play the entire piece. I still make mistakes along the way but I keep working on it. It’s one of those pieces that I will keep playing the rest of my life because it is so beautiful. Hopefully I will keep improving on it while learning new pieces too. Love your channel and appreciate your tips.
I'm struggling with Moonlight Sonata 3rd movement at around the 1 min mark, 3 min and 5 min mark with the parts that go (BBBBB Bb Ab G & the EEEEE Eb Db C partvwith the left hand jumps) when the melody switches to the left hand, the part near the end of mostly right hand going up and down the piano and the ending arpeggio. I can play it at around 72 bpm rn but speeding up is a struggle.
Thank you. You are a great professor.
Needed that one. Thank you so much!
Hey, love your content and I hope you will make a video about how to actually press piano keys to get a consistent volume on different hands and fingers. I am a beginner and this is the topic I have a hard time to find info on. I heard that there are two ways to get low and high volume sounds but it seems it is hard to grasp an idea on how to press keys correctly. It becomes harder when I need to go from finger 5 to 1 or in chords or mixing black and white keys succession or in a chord. Would love to learn this topic with your teaching style. Thanks for you content!
Hi Jazer - do you give one on one online lessons?
I'm starting to watch your videos. I have been having lessons for 6 months. I play right hand well. I play left hand well too. When I play both hands I have difficulty
Hi Jazer, I am very grateful to you for everything, I enjoy watching your videos, I have a few questions, What is the difference between arpeggios and broken chords? Could you show some examples how to practice them?
Thank you a lot Jazer
I've taken piano lessons for a total of about three years. A year at age 12. Then again for two years in my early fourties, which, at this time my piano teacher bailed on me. Said I knew enough to continue on my own. Well, sorry to say, I stopped playing soon after that. I'm now 71 and three years ago got my books out again and started to refresh what I knew and try to teach myself more. It's not working very well. I'm into the grade 3 book, but, I haven't really mastered the songs in my second year book.
I've followed your instruction in prior videos and practice one hand at a time and can eventually put them together but not without mistakes. I also seem to have a cycle of I play well one day, the following day I can't play at all, the next day, good again.
I know I need help with technic on some songs. I guess I need a teacher. I'm having trouble talking myself into making a 45 mile round trip drive once a week for lessons. 😖
But, I'll keep at it. Thanks for the videos. Happy New Year. 😃
Upvoting before this premieres because it's a great topic and I know the tips are going to be great.
These are great tips. Thank you. Maybe I can get through the 5 songs I started and stopped.
Fly me to the moon. And the problem you mention has hounded every pice I’ve tried. I get bored / frustrated after getting the hang of the main melody. In most of my selected pieces I see the same pattern repeat, but with lots of minor changes ( a lot of Beatles songs for instance). Great tips - thanks
Thank you so much! You just make a great video ❤
So, is it bad to start a new piece in the middle of the song? Like when the song crescendos into the favorite part you like to hear? Thank you again for all your advice! I always get excited for a new helpful video! 😁
I do exactly as he says
That’s how I’ve been working on pieces but I used to start pieces I liked from the beginning and then drop them half way through because they were too difficult
What I do now is I start learning the piece from the difficult part or whatever the part that I like is. If I succeed and I like what I hear then I’ll do the beginning and the rest of the piece
That way I’m not wasting my time so you can start working on a piece from anywhere you like really And it’s actually better it will avoid getting bored
For me, I rarely start at the beginning. I will break it into pieces and often tackle the tough parts first. Once I have a handle on them, I'll add additional sections. Your comment about starting at the favorite spot is also a good idea, might as well focus on the parts we really like as a starting point.
Thank you Lee, just by looking at you I get motivation to practice those tips!
Such a good video!!! Ty a la so much for this!!! I’m currently learning Liszt’s Serenade. I’m in love with all Melodie’s and this is going to help out with some techniques about the piece! Thank you!
I enjoyed your playing. Would you like to guide me as a beginner how to play hard songs like Jesus be a fence all around me by Fred Hammond?
I love the melody and the words so much as a vocalist.
You're a great Guy and good Inspiration.
Thank you! 😊😊😊
I love your videos! So helpful and interesting!!! Great advice. Please keep them coming. My problem is finding more than 30 mins per day to devote to practice.
im learning nocturne op 9 no2, i have been studying piano for just a month or two, but i play till the part you just played quite decent, i have learned fur elise before this piece, its taking a lot more time and effort
I’m teaching myself the accompaniment to Andrew Lloyd Webbers Pie Jesu. It’s a struggle but I’m determined to finish it. I’ve loved that piece ever since I heard it several years ago with the Andre Rieu orchestra.